Sunroom Windows and Doors

You have many options when it comes to opening your sunroom to the outside light. Photo Credit: Elsie esq.

When you’re having a sunroom
added onto your home, it goes without saying that the majority of this new
structure consists of doors and windows. Many sunroom companies won’t give you
a large selection of windows and doors to choose from. They
tend to work with only certain brands of windows, allowing the homeowner to
choose only the casing materials: wood, vinyl, or aluminum.

That doesn’t mean that you
don’t have a choice, however. By comparing sunroom installation companies, you
will see that they each have something different to offer. If you know ahead of
time what you want in a door and window for your sunroom, you’ll easily be able
to select the most compatible company for you.

Self-Cleaning Glass Maintains the Sunroom View

One of the most daunting
characteristics of glass is that it can collect and show so much dirt, which
can really detract from your scenic views from the sunroom and from its
attractiveness from outside. Luckily, many sunrooms now come with glass that is
self-cleaning, which means you get to keep your
views and maintain your sunroom’s attractiveness from the outside, all
without much effort from you. When shopping for sunrooms, be sure to ask each
company you encounter if their sunrooms come with self-cleaning glass.

Seamless Mechanisms for Easy Operation

While you’ll want to capture
as much sunlight as you can in your sunroom during the winter months without
letting your heat escape, you’ll probably also want to let some fresh air in during
warmer days. Find out what mechanisms are used to allow you to open windows and
skylights in your sunroom. Be sure to look them over well. You’ll want a system
that is easy to operate and reach, yet subtle in design so that it doesn’t
stick out like a bunch of sore thumbs across your sleek glass enclosure.

Design’s a Breeze

Also handy for letting in the
cool summer breezes are screens. Ask your sunroom installer to
show you how to place your window and door screens properly for the warmer
months. Again, they should be easy for you to work, but in keeping with the
beauty of your room design.

Shop for Energy Efficient Glass Options

In addition to ease of use
and aesthetics, you also need to be aware of the global and budgetary effects
of the windows and doors in your new sunroom. Find out if the glass used in your sunroom will be
insulated, low-e, and/or tinted or treated in any way. What you’re really
asking is how
energy efficient the glass will be. You want to make sure that the glass is
insulated enough to not let your HVAC heat escape, but not so insulated that
you won’t receive the benefits of solar gain.

Safe, Strong, and Secure

The last thing you may want
to consider is security. While most glass panels are fairly easily broken, find
out the strength of the glass as well as the system holding the panels
together. Make sure that the sunroom system your installer
will be using is durable enough to hold up to the weather conditions in your
region as well as to ill-intentioned uninvited guests.